Spend a fun day learning how to capture the world in watercolors as you paint your very own piece. In each class you will finish one painting of the given subject, all levels are welcome and lots of personal coaching will be provided. NO DRAWING SKILLS NEEDED! Drawings for All Subjects provided in Class.
All Workshops are limited to 6 students, sign up early to reserve you seat. Call the gallery to sign up for class and for more information 805-643-6400!
Please arrive 5 minutes early, class will start on time. All class reservations must be paid in advance and cannot be canceled or changed less than 72 hours prior to class. Sorry, no exceptions.
All Workshops are limited to 6 students, sign up early to reserve you seat. Call the gallery to sign up for class and for more information 805-643-6400!
Please arrive 5 minutes early, class will start on time. All class reservations must be paid in advance and cannot be canceled or changed less than 72 hours prior to class. Sorry, no exceptions.
Class Supply list is found at the end of the page
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Beach Scenes
Sunday, August 23rd 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Capture the relaxed beauty of the coast in this inspiring Watercolor Beach Scenes class! Join us as we explore the soft, flowing techniques that make watercolor perfect for painting oceans, skies, and sandy shores. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create luminous beach landscapes—from gentle waves rolling in to glowing sunsets over the horizon. We’ll cover essential watercolor skills including: 🌊 Blending smooth skies and gradients 🏖️ Creating texture for sand and shoreline 🌅 Layering colors for depth and atmosphere 🐚 Adding simple details like seashells, dunes, and distant figures Phyllis will guide you step-by-step while encouraging your own creative style, making this class perfect for both beginners and continuing students. No drawing experience needed—just bring your love of the beach! All supplies are included (or bring your own), and you’ll leave with a beautiful coastal painting ready to mat and display. Come relax, unwind, and paint your way to the shore. |
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Summer Lavender Fields
Sunday, August 30th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Escape to the countryside as you paint a stunning watercolor landscape inspired by Ojai's rolling lavender fields in full bloom. In this relaxing step-by-step workshop, you'll capture the beauty of endless rows of vibrant purple flowers stretching toward the horizon beneath a glowing sky. You'll learn how to create depth and perspective, blend soft washes of color, and use expressive brushstrokes to suggest thousands of delicate lavender blossoms without painting every individual flower. Along the way, we'll explore techniques for painting distant hills, atmospheric skies, and the beautiful light that makes lavender fields so enchanting. Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike, this class will help you build confidence with watercolor while creating a peaceful landscape filled with color and charm. |
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Desert Sunsets
Saturday, Sept. 19th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Create a breathtaking watercolor landscape inspired by the warm, glowing beauty of the desert at sunset. In this relaxing workshop, you'll paint a dramatic scene filled with vibrant skies, distant mountains, towering cacti, and the rich colors that make desert evenings so unforgettable. Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike, this step-by-step class is a wonderful opportunity to build confidence with watercolor while creating a striking southwestern landscape. In this class you'll learn:
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Coastal Lighthouse
Sunday, October 4th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Create a charming coastal lighthouse scene in watercolor as you explore techniques for capturing the beauty of the sea, sky, and shoreline. In this step-by-step workshop, you'll paint a picturesque lighthouse standing proudly against a peaceful ocean backdrop, complete with rocky cliffs, crashing waves, and soft coastal skies. You'll learn how to build luminous washes, create texture in rocks and water, and use light and shadow to bring depth and atmosphere to your painting. Along the way, we'll cover techniques for painting architectural details without getting overwhelmed, allowing the lighthouse to become the focal point of your composition. Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike, this relaxing class will help you develop confidence with watercolor while creating a timeless coastal landscape. |
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Fall Sunflowers
Sunday, October 10th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Create a vibrant bouquet of sunflowers bursting with warmth, color, and personality in this joyful watercolor workshop. Whether you're new to watercolor or have experience with the medium, you'll enjoy learning how to capture the cheerful beauty of these iconic blooms using loose, expressive techniques. In this step-by-step class, you'll explore how to paint luminous yellow petals, rich textured centers, and fresh green foliage while building confidence with watercolor. You'll learn how to layer transparent washes, preserve highlights, and create depth with light and shadow, bringing your flowers to life with every brushstroke. Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike, this relaxing class encourages creativity while teaching techniques you can apply to future floral paintings. |
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Whimsical Feathers
Sunday, October 25th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Create a collection of colorful, whimsical feathers in this fun and relaxing watercolor workshop! Filled with bold colors, playful patterns, and beautiful textures, this class is the perfect opportunity to experiment with watercolor while exploring your creative side. You'll paint a variety of unique feather designs, each featuring its own combination of vibrant color palettes, decorative patterns, and expressive brushwork. Along the way, you'll learn techniques for creating soft blends, crisp details, interesting textures, and eye-catching accents that make every feather one of a kind. By the end of class, you'll have a vibrant collection of whimsical watercolor feathers bursting with color, texture, and personality—along with new techniques you can incorporate into future watercolor projects. |
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Sail Away
Sunday, November 7th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Capture the peaceful beauty of the open water in this relaxing watercolor sailboat workshop. In this step-by-step class, you'll paint a graceful sailboat gliding across shimmering water beneath a beautiful sky while learning techniques that bring movement, light, and atmosphere to your painting. You'll discover how to create luminous skies, soft reflections, and gentle waves using transparent watercolor techniques. Along the way, you'll learn how to simplify the sailboat into easy-to-paint shapes, balance your composition, and use light and shadow to create depth and realism. Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike, this workshop offers a fun and approachable way to build confidence with watercolor while creating a timeless coastal scene. |
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Watercolor Shell Close Ups
Sunday, November 15th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Discover the beauty hidden in nature's smallest details as you paint stunning close-up seashells in watercolor. In this relaxing workshop, you'll explore the intricate patterns, soft curves, and luminous colors that make shells such fascinating watercolor subjects. Using step-by-step instruction, you'll learn how to capture the delicate textures, subtle color shifts, and beautiful highlights found in a variety of seashells. Through transparent layering and thoughtful brushwork, you'll create realistic depth while allowing the natural glow of watercolor to shine through. Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike, this class is a wonderful way to improve your watercolor skills while celebrating the simple elegance of the coast. |
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Watercolor Supply List
Phyllis’ Watercolor Supply List
Professional artist-quality materials are essential for good results. Your paintings and your enjoyment will only be as good as the tools you use.
Why Artist-Quality Watercolor Supplies Are Required for Classes
Watercolor is a unique medium that depends heavily on the quality of the materials being used. While student-grade paints and papers may seem like a more economical choice, they often make learning watercolor much more difficult and can limit a student's success in class.
Artist-quality paints contain a higher concentration of pure pigments, producing richer colors, better transparency, and smoother blends. Student-grade paints contain more fillers and less pigment, resulting in weaker color intensity and less predictable results. Many of the techniques taught in class—such as glazing, color mixing, and creating luminous washes—are much easier to achieve with professional-quality paints.
Paper quality is equally important. 100% Cotton Artist-grade watercolor paper is designed to absorb and hold water properly, allowing colors to flow, blend, and lift as intended. Lower-quality paper tends to buckle, pill, tear, and produce uneven washes, making it difficult to practice techniques successfully.
Using artist-quality materials helps students focus on learning watercolor skills rather than struggling against the limitations of their supplies. It creates a more consistent learning experience for everyone in the class, and allows students to achieve results that accurately reflect the techniques being taught.
Investing in quality materials from the beginning will save you money in the long run because the supplies perform better, last longer, and provide a more rewarding painting experience.
The following is a list of Necessary and Required Materials for all of our Watercolor Workshops and Classes.
WATERCOLOR PAPER:
A Cold-Pressed or Rough texture good quality 100% cotton watercolor paper is essential. Arches 140# 9”x12” pads are preferred and are available online from Amazon, Jerry’s Artarama and Blick. The yellow, brown, blue or white covered pads of Student Grade paper (not 100% Cotton) sold at Michael’s will not work in our classes, as explained above.
PALETTE: A full-size watercolor palette with a lid is highly recommended. Please have your tube paints emptied into your palette and ready to use when you arrive. Your palette should also have an area for mixing your colors or you should have a separate porcelain palette for mixing. In a pinch, a white dinner plate will do for extra mixing space.
BRUSHES: There is no “magic” watercolor brush. Please bring an assortment of Round & Flat Watercolor brushes in a variety of sizes. Other specialty brushes will be demonstrated and made available to use, if needed, in class. Watercolor brushes that are synthetics or blends are fine. Bring what you are most comfortable using. We love the Silver Brush brand and offer those in our class supplies.
PAINTS: At Red Brick Art we use & recommend only professional grade tube watercolor paint as opposed to student grade paints. Our favorite paints are Golden’s QoR Watercolors for their rich, brilliant colors. They flow beautifully and a little goes a long way so they will last much longer.
Other professional grade watercolors are available from Holbein, Mission Gold, M.Graham, Daniel Smith and Winsor & Newton.
RECOMMENDED COLORS: This is a personal choice, so I am giving suggestions. First, select a warm (yellow shade) and a cool (blue shade) of each of the primary colors of Red, Yellow and Blue, plus any colors you especially enjoy.
Select ONE of each color category for starters. You will need both a Warm shade & a Cool shade of Red, Blue, Yellow & also Green, plus a few earth tones and darks. Also add a few impact colors that may spark your creativity, such as opera & teal.
OTHER NECESSARY SUPPLIES: Masking tape and a waterproof board or solid surface to secure your watercolor paper while painting. Paper towels, a cloth rag for blotting water from your brush, masking fluid & an applicator, an old toothbrush, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (original without soap) cut in small pieces, scraps of watercolor paper for testing colors, kneaded eraser, plastic eraser, small water spray bottle and color wheel for reference.
Red Brick always supplies water containers, light boxes, mechanical pencils & hair dryers for all watercolor classes, so you don’t have to bring those.
**You may rent all the needed supplies to use in class for $15 per class session
Professional artist-quality materials are essential for good results. Your paintings and your enjoyment will only be as good as the tools you use.
Why Artist-Quality Watercolor Supplies Are Required for Classes
Watercolor is a unique medium that depends heavily on the quality of the materials being used. While student-grade paints and papers may seem like a more economical choice, they often make learning watercolor much more difficult and can limit a student's success in class.
Artist-quality paints contain a higher concentration of pure pigments, producing richer colors, better transparency, and smoother blends. Student-grade paints contain more fillers and less pigment, resulting in weaker color intensity and less predictable results. Many of the techniques taught in class—such as glazing, color mixing, and creating luminous washes—are much easier to achieve with professional-quality paints.
Paper quality is equally important. 100% Cotton Artist-grade watercolor paper is designed to absorb and hold water properly, allowing colors to flow, blend, and lift as intended. Lower-quality paper tends to buckle, pill, tear, and produce uneven washes, making it difficult to practice techniques successfully.
Using artist-quality materials helps students focus on learning watercolor skills rather than struggling against the limitations of their supplies. It creates a more consistent learning experience for everyone in the class, and allows students to achieve results that accurately reflect the techniques being taught.
Investing in quality materials from the beginning will save you money in the long run because the supplies perform better, last longer, and provide a more rewarding painting experience.
The following is a list of Necessary and Required Materials for all of our Watercolor Workshops and Classes.
WATERCOLOR PAPER:
A Cold-Pressed or Rough texture good quality 100% cotton watercolor paper is essential. Arches 140# 9”x12” pads are preferred and are available online from Amazon, Jerry’s Artarama and Blick. The yellow, brown, blue or white covered pads of Student Grade paper (not 100% Cotton) sold at Michael’s will not work in our classes, as explained above.
PALETTE: A full-size watercolor palette with a lid is highly recommended. Please have your tube paints emptied into your palette and ready to use when you arrive. Your palette should also have an area for mixing your colors or you should have a separate porcelain palette for mixing. In a pinch, a white dinner plate will do for extra mixing space.
BRUSHES: There is no “magic” watercolor brush. Please bring an assortment of Round & Flat Watercolor brushes in a variety of sizes. Other specialty brushes will be demonstrated and made available to use, if needed, in class. Watercolor brushes that are synthetics or blends are fine. Bring what you are most comfortable using. We love the Silver Brush brand and offer those in our class supplies.
PAINTS: At Red Brick Art we use & recommend only professional grade tube watercolor paint as opposed to student grade paints. Our favorite paints are Golden’s QoR Watercolors for their rich, brilliant colors. They flow beautifully and a little goes a long way so they will last much longer.
Other professional grade watercolors are available from Holbein, Mission Gold, M.Graham, Daniel Smith and Winsor & Newton.
RECOMMENDED COLORS: This is a personal choice, so I am giving suggestions. First, select a warm (yellow shade) and a cool (blue shade) of each of the primary colors of Red, Yellow and Blue, plus any colors you especially enjoy.
Select ONE of each color category for starters. You will need both a Warm shade & a Cool shade of Red, Blue, Yellow & also Green, plus a few earth tones and darks. Also add a few impact colors that may spark your creativity, such as opera & teal.
OTHER NECESSARY SUPPLIES: Masking tape and a waterproof board or solid surface to secure your watercolor paper while painting. Paper towels, a cloth rag for blotting water from your brush, masking fluid & an applicator, an old toothbrush, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (original without soap) cut in small pieces, scraps of watercolor paper for testing colors, kneaded eraser, plastic eraser, small water spray bottle and color wheel for reference.
Red Brick always supplies water containers, light boxes, mechanical pencils & hair dryers for all watercolor classes, so you don’t have to bring those.
**You may rent all the needed supplies to use in class for $15 per class session
